King Charles made a rare personal gesture during a visit to York Hospital’s Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Cancer Centre on May 26. The 77-year-old monarch greeted staff and patients at the newly redeveloped unit, which includes a garden designed as a calm outdoor space for visitors. During the visit, he hugged a woman in the reception line and kissed her on both cheeks, an unusual display for the King during an official engagement. According to People, the visit also reflected his long-running support for cancer care across the U.K.
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King Charles Visits York Hospital Patients and Staff
The occasion centered on the Macmillan Cancer Centre’s expansion and refurbishment, a project valued at about $3.2 million. The King met people involved in the redevelopment and spent time with staff and patients using the facility. He also planted a Macmillan Rose in the garden, linking the visit to the charity he has supported for decades. Charles has served as patron of Macmillan Cancer Support since 1997, giving the engagement added weight as he continues his own treatment while maintaining a steady schedule of royal appearances.
Macmillan Role Dates Back Nearly Three Decades
His connection to Macmillan is not new. The charity supports people living with cancer, along with their families and friends, through hospital and community information centers across the country. That history made this appearance especially meaningful. In April 2024, his first official public engagement after the palace announced his diagnosis was also tied to a Macmillan cancer center in London. The choice then sent a clear message about awareness, support and early diagnosis, themes that have continued to shape his public work since.
Cancer Diagnosis Was Announced in 2024
Buckingham Palace said in February 2024 that the King had been diagnosed with “a form of cancer” after treatment for a benign enlarged prostate. The palace also made clear that he does not have prostate cancer. He stepped back from public-facing duties for roughly three months before returning to engagements. Since then, he has continued domestic visits and overseas tours, even after a brief hospital stay in March 2025 linked to temporary side effects from scheduled treatment. His recovery has since been described as being at a positive stage.
King Charles Shared Good News on Treatment
Late in 2025, Charles offered one of his clearest public updates on his health. "Today, I am able to share with you the good news that thanks to early diagnosis, effective intervention and adherence to ‘doctors’ orders,’ my own schedule of cancer treatment can be reduced in the New Year," the King said according to People Magazine. The palace has stopped short of using the word remission, but the latest York visit showed a monarch still fully engaged, still visible in public life and still closely connected to cancer charities.
